Shooting ranges in the United States
There are shooting ranges in the United States open to the public, both indoor and outdoor. Either privately owned firearms or those rented from the shooting range may be used, depending on the range rules set by the owner. Major tourist destinations in gun-friendly U.S. States have "rental ranges" to cater to domestic and international tourists.
Each shooting range facility in the United States is typically overseen by one or more range masters to ensure gun safety rules are followed.
Target shooting is generally allowed on public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, meaning a great deal of target shooting is done unsupervised, outside the auspices of purpose-built or organised ranges.[1]
Specialized classes and licenses
Self-defense classes may be available for a fee at shooting ranges, covering firearm use in much more detail.
Some ranges offer a class for concealed carry licenses, which are available in almost every state. Some states issue the license only after a short course, and in some courses are optional.
While most shooting ranges do not allow non US citizens to participate, many tourist oriented ranges offer rental firearms and safety lessons to foreign nationals.[2] The rentals range from pistols and rifles all the way to full auto machine guns.
Locations
![](../I/Shooting_range_near_Pittsburgh_-_outside_11.JPG.webp)
In most states in the United States, there are numerous public-access shooting ranges, ranging for example from 144 in Florida with a population in excess of 18.2 million to 9 in Hawaii with a population of 1.3 million (numbers taken as of October 2008) Exceptions include cities in the states of Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Illinois with strict gun control laws, where the numbers of ranges may be only one for every few hundred thousand people.[3] Washington, D.C. does not have a public range, owing to its limited territory and strict laws.
Private or restricted-access shooting ranges are owned and used by police departments, private companies, private membership shooting clubs, and the military for qualification and/or continued firearms practice and training. These private ranges may have more-specialized features not seen in public ranges, e.g., large caliber rifle and automatic weapons ranges.
Types of Ranges
California
It is not permitted to use firearms that are illegal in California on shooting ranges in California.[4]
Outdoor ranges
Across the US there are a variety of privately operated outdoor ranges, as well as public-access ranges operated by state and federal agencies on public land.
Most outdoor ranges restrict the maximum caliber size, or have separate ranges devoted to use with rifles firing heavy caliber cartridges.
The National Rifle Association of America maintains guidelines for range design, but often the U.S. military range design guidelines are more prescriptive, specific and easier to use.
Indoor ranges
An estimated 16,000 to 18,000 indoor firing ranges are in operation in the United States.[5]
Informal Ranges
Recreational target shooting is generally allowed on public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, meaning a great deal of target shooting is conducted unsupervised, outside the auspices of purpose-built or organised ranges.[1][6] States may also allow shooting over state-administered public lands. "Dispersed recreational shooting" has resulted in a number of deaths through inappropriate and negligent practices, such as attaching targets to trees and shooting without an appropriate backstop.[7][8][9] This is despite the fact that it is usually unlawful to shoot at trees on public lands.[10]
Concerns have also been raised over criminal damage to public lands. This includes the destruction of structures, vegetation and historic artefacts.[11] Littering is also cited as a problem in some areas, including empty casings and the use of unapproved targets such as old televisions, household appliances and glass bottles, with the debris left in situ.[9]
Unmanaged target shooting (as well as broken glass) can contribute to wildfires, with dispersed recreational shooting linked with 64 wildfires in Utah in 2020.[12][13] For this reason, local restrictions are sometimes imposed on BLM-managed and state-owned public lands, particularly during wildfire season.[14] Calls have been made in some areas to construct more public-access ranges in conjunction with tougher restrictions on ad-hoc shooting over public land.[9][15] In 2022, US Representative Blake Moore (R-Utah) introduced the Range Access Act,[16] which would mandate that each National Forest and Bureau of Land Management district has at least one public recreational shooting range.[17]
Common safety practices
![](../I/page1-220px-Lead_exposure_at_firing_ranges%E2%80%94a_review.pdf.jpg.webp)
Nearly all public ranges require that all firearms be unloaded prior to entering, or leaving, the range facility, irrespective of whether one holds a concealed carry license.
Indoor ranges can introduce the risk of lead poisoning if they are not ventilated or cleaned properly. Lead dust in these facilities can be inhaled or can contaminate skin and clothing.[5]
See also
References
- "Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting". Bureau of Land Management. US Department of the Interior. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- "Yes, Foreign Nationals May Rent and Shoot Guns*". Damage Factory. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
- "Places to Shoot". National Rifle Association of America. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
- CA Penal Code § 30515 (2020)
- Kardous, Chucri. Take Aim at Protecting Yourself: Solutions for Preventing Lead Poisoning and Hearing Loss at Indoor Firing Ranges. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. May 18, 2009.
- C. Moon Reed (July 6, 2018). "When target shooters and hikers collide". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- Farnoush Amiri (September 25, 2018). "Utah teen shot and killed by stray bullet while driving near target range". NBC News. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
A 14-year-old Utah boy was killed after a bullet from a nearby group of target shooters missed the trees and struck him in the head, police and the boy's family said.
- Trevor Hughes (October 24, 2010). "Gun rights under siege? Recreational shooting on public lands in West has officials struggling to balance sport vs. safety". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020.
- Jesse Paul (July 10, 2015). "Man killed by errant bullet in Pike National Forest highlights growing problem". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on May 24, 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- "Recreational Shooting". Snomish County, Washington. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023.
- Cait Munro (August 27, 2015). "Ancient Petroglyphs Damaged by Target Shooters in Utah". Artnet News. Artnet. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- "Wildland fire investigation: common wildfire causes". National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023.
- Lexi Peery (June 28, 2021). "From Finger To The Flame: How Target Shooting Cause Wildfires". kuer90.1. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021.
- "Arizona Recreational Shooting". Bureau of Land Management. US Department of the Interior. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- "Shooting Range Response". cajadelrio.org. Caja del Rio Coalition. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- "H.R.9183 - Range Access Act". www.congress.gov. Library of Congress. October 14, 2022. Archived from the original on December 23, 2022.
- Chris Eger (October 17, 2022). "Bill Would Add Hundreds of Free Public Shooting Ranges". guns.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
External links
- Health and Safety: Indoor Firing Ranges. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
- https://www.epa.gov/lead/best-management-practices-lead-outdoor-shooting-ranges